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MG MGF Technical - No HGF stats?

I have recently bought a 98 MGF with only 25000 ks on the clock. This F is completely original and have not been modified. I would like to keep it that way.
As a new owner I am very worry about the dramatic HGF stories at the BBS. My questions: Will my F suffer HGF inevitably?. Any of you people that did not get one? Is it possible to avoid HGF with out any modification?
Thanks
Alex
Alex Harrison

Alex.

I, like you ,have not long got my first MGF!.

I also, like you are a little paranoid about HGF!.

You have no doubt, like me read some of the Horror storys in many of the threads!.

I dont Know the answer, it would appear neither do Rover, as hgf is still happening on newer TFs.

The advice i was given is use a quality anti-freeze, check your water every day, and keep your fingers Xed

Not much help sorry, but i think its about the only advice there is!!!!

Anyway Just enjoy the car,and have FUN!!.(just keep one eye on temp guage)...........

Mark.
Mark

Alex, Mark...

My advice is get yourself a warranty, mine is around £200 per year (more expensive than the AA one some folks on here have I think)....but... I had an HGF a month ago and the warranty company covered my entire £1100 bill. I'd already had £100 worth of work done to replace a track rod end as well so believe me... from experience, warranties are well worth it. Mine is http://www.warrantydirect.co.uk/

Cheers

Chris.
Chris Tromans

I have a '98 MGF and know that it has never suffered HGF! Previous owners are my boyfriends parents so I know the car pretty well.
I would go with Marks advice, it's pretty much a case of keeping a good eye on everything especially water level. I would also advise to keep an eye on green coloured water leaks under your car as this is quite likely a faulty inlet manifold gasket which will lead to HGF (this happened just before I brought the car but was sorted before HGF!).
As Mark also pointed out keep an eye on the temp gauge!
I don't tend to worry, just enjoy!!

Susanne
S Mead

Chris.

This warranty company?!.

Do you think i could claim for the following.........

Full bespoke leather interior,
Full body kit with 17" wheels,
Full TF body conversion,
uprated brakes and suspenders,
Mp3, cd, dvd player with screen,
silly toy thing to hang of mirror.

I have none of the above but would be NICE !!!!....

Mark.
Mark

I too was checking my water everytime I got in the car, unfortunately the day I didn't I had a coolant loss from a pipe under the car, bang went the HGF only to find when the rover garage took it appart that the head had already been skimmed. New cylinder head as well total bill £2500

guess what I took out a warrenty 60days before the bang and it was all covered - £50 excess!

so worth doing makes you feel a bit safer - engine is sweet now with all the modification done and a 1yr warrenty from Rover.

PS it is for sale now! was before but all this happend kind of got in the way!

Nigel

http://www.shame.4mg.com/ was useful when getting my local MGR dealer to repair my 97 vvc after a HGF on a chilly winter day. Its not up-to-date but I was able to show that the 97 F appeared to be particularly prone to this problem and Fs in general didn't like winter. I didn't tell the garage that I had been doing about 6000rpm 5 minutes after leaving home. Now I keep an eye on the oil and coolant every week and wait for the oil temp needle to start to move before putting my foot down (which confuses my work colleagues who are used to me blasting past them on a morning but are allowed to pass me in the afternoon). So far, so good.
Steve Madden

Steve,.

Do i read this right?.

You used the hall of shame, to get rover dealer to repair your hgf
By that do you mean it was FREE ??.... as in car not under warranty etc!.

Mark.
Mark

An HGF is by no means inevitable but is slightly more likely than comfort would demand.

Sold my '96 F VVC in April still with original HG.

As said above, a good warranty puts the mind at rest. AA offer have several offerings ranging from a full almost unlimited extended warranty to a Parts & Labour warranty. See http://www.theaa.co.uk for details and costs and pick the one that suits you. I went for the P&L @ £49 at the time to pay upto £500 upto 3 times a year (car less than 8 years + some mileage limit). Sold the car before I needed to claim and have now transferred it to wife's Micra.

JohnP

Mark
The car was still (just) under dealer warranty but the dealer was being a bit funny about doing the job so I used the stats as leverage to get it done for free. They cracked the rear screen and snapped the gear cable while it was in their care that week!
And I keep going back...
Steve Madden

I was not aware of this dreadful stat.
Being the owner of a ´97 regular MGF I am now becoming increasingly worried.
Actually I would like to learn what is wrong with '97 built Fs.
Ian Benson

Ian.

>What is wrong with the 97 built Fs <

Same as the 95, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04.

The "Engine".........

Sorry.

Mark.
Mark

I too recently purchased a 98 Abingdon LE 1.8i(Jap import) 42000 kms in immaculate condition. It flew thru the MGR used vehicle test with very minor adverse comment.

I suspect that it has had HGF as the thermostat was faulty and on replacement I found that the original had been drilled (3 holes). Dealer replaced at cost NZD247.

I purchased the car with a 3 year mechanical warranty thru the dealer who advises that with 27 Jap imported Fs sold, only two have suffered HGF. (This particular dealer has a good reputation in the MV industry so I have reason to believe he is being truthful).

After reading countless horror stories that are largely from UK owners,I wonder whether the speeds possible on UK/European freeways is a contributing factor. NZ speed limit is 100kmph with an alleged 10 kmph tolerance. Victoria Australia is 100 kmph with absolutely zero tolerance. I would be interested to learn if any of the BB experts have considered whether speed and high engine revs for prolonged periods of time may be a significant contributor to HGF.
Roger

Roger, my '97 F had an HGF on NZ roads. It was an ex-rental and I had heard that it was thrashed a bit before we got it. Some plonker tried to out run the fuzz at 160 kph, until he ran out of petrol. Hearsay only of course.

While we had it I did the odd motorkahna and autocross day, but in general it got treated reasonably gently on the roads. We had it about two years before the HG went. Not sure now just what they gave as the reason.
Neil Courtney

I agree - HGF isn't inevitable. Mine's a '96 on it's original head gasket, and the car is certainly not given an easy time - what with plenty of track days and competitive sprints under its wheels ;o)

I wonder, like so many others here, how much of an impact reving the engine from cold makes. I've never done this - always prefering to wait to see some heat in the oil before exceeding 3000rpm...

Either that, or I'm lucky with the thermostat in my car!!!
Rob Bell

I totally agree with Rob.
Never more than 3000 rpm until that oil temperature guage is kicking in big time. I have owned so many cars without a HGF that I just hope it works for my vvc!!!!!!
Don't go by when the water temperature gauge has reached normal, that it means now is the time for the rev limiter to be used.
Chris
Chris Jones

Thanks Guys - it would appear that there may well be a direct link between HGF and oil temp.I will stick to a low rev warm up and like every else - fingers crossed !!
Roger

>how much of an impact reving the engine from cold makes.

It does a lot.
Warm it up AND let it cool down in the same way.

Regards
Dieter
PS 93.000km no HGF
Dieter K.

My MGF is a 96 with 79,000 on the clock and still on its original HG and has had regular Coolant changes since new. One of the Metal coolant pipes underneith the car has just started to weep (see other thread) and this was down to the fact that the wall of the pipe has gone thin from me grinding it out on various occasions. Don't be too scared of HGF, considering the amount of F's that have been sold the failure rate is really low, just keep an eye on the coolant level and on the pipe work underneith (when possible). A 98MY should have no problems with the Inlet manifold gasket failing and modified Headgasket and Dowels were possibly fitted from new so no worries there either. Don't forget to have fun in the F and worry less about HGF.
Steve Tyler

"http://www.shame.4mg.com/ was useful when getting my local MGR dealer to repair my 97 vvc after a HGF on a chilly winter day. Its not up-to-date"

The database is fully up to date, the stats do need some work and I will get round to those in the near future. Just keep bugging me and I'll get to them quicker! :-)

MikeB, The Lowly B Owner and Hall of Shame Webmaster.
The Wiz

Yep I agree with Rob and Chris, don't go mad revving the engine and soon at you wake it up in the morning, it can't do it much good. My '98 F had a HGF less than a month after me buying it. It was bought privately so had no warrenty, neither had a it a recent service, I don't think it was very loved :S
Emma Jackman

This thread was discussed between 23/08/2004 and 06/09/2004

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